Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? / Aemond Targaryen / House of the Dragon

37. Eclipses

"Duty is sacrifice. It eclipses all things, even blood. All men of honor must pay its price." Cregan remarked as they walked the wall.  "The North owes a great duty to the Seven Kingdoms. One older than any oath." Jaces gaze temporarily shifted to the barking dog before returning to the snowy past ahead. "Since the days of the First Men,  we have stood as guardians against the cold and the dark. Through its long tradition, the Night's Watch cultivated its strength from doomed men who had their life as their only possession. But my ancestor, Torrhen Stark, began a tradition by making an offering at the onset of winter: one in 10 men from our household was to be chosen to fortify the Watch. This is not a sentence but an honor. A duty embraced by all who serve the North." Cregan informed jace as they got into the lift.  "Even by mine own kin. The North must stand ready. Winter is coming."

"Coming?" Jace chuckled. "What is this, then, that falls from the skies and shivers my bones?"

"I agree Cregan, warm me up." Vaera agreed, he leaned over kissing her neck, she blushed into him. 

"This is only a late summer snow, my prince." Cregan assured him.  "In winter, it will cover all you see, and all memories of warmth will be forgotten." Jace nodded getting to the top he stared out over the wall. It was magnificent. 

"You come here often Vaera?"

"The wall? No never, but winterfell is lovely." she assured. "You should visit." 

"I doubt your mother would approve."

"She hold no ill will towards you, just your mother." 

"Well my mother is queen." Jace countered. 

"Yeah." Vaera drawled out glancing to Cregan. 

"It pleases me to think that over a century ago our ancestors treated in this very place. The Conqueror and the King in the North."

"You, at least, had the mercy not to threaten me with your dragon." Cregan agreed.

"My prince."

"My lord." Was echoed as a night watchman passed.

"M'lord."

"Surely the great Torrhen Stark would've sooner died than bent the knee. Unless he believed the Conqueror could bring unity to the Seven Kingdoms." Jace went on.

"You are right in that." Cregan agreed.

"That unity is now threatened. The realm will soon tear itself apart... if men do not remember the oath sworn to King Viserys and to his rightful heir." Jace prompted. Cregan looked to Vaera. She knew he was a man of honor and she loved him for it but with what her own mother had planned, putting Avalon on the throne. It was hard to see how this would end. She didnt want to be torn between her father and her mother and her husband to be. But Maeve was her friend, she was queen right now. Surely someone would petition for peace. vaera wanted peace and puppies and snowflakes. Was that so hard?

"Starks do not forget their oaths, my prince. But you must know that my gaze is forever torn between north and south. In winter, my duty to the Wall is even more dire than the one I owe to King's Landing." Cregan informed him honestly. "I need my men here." Vaera nodded, that was a good way of staying out of the fighting, out of the middle. Can't pick sides, dont help anyone. 

"Whilst your men guard against wildlings and weather, the Hightowers plan to usurp the throne. If my mother is to defend her claim to hold the realm united, she needs an army. war is coming to the whole of the realm, my lord. " jace assured him. "We cannot wage it without the support of the North." Cregan debated that a moment longer.

"wage what Jace?" Vaera countered. 

"War." He answered. 

"And what of peace?"